i got my New Home (Janome) over 25 years ago after test driving bernina, pfaff and everything else. my dealer sold both and told me that any parts for the bernina would take a long time to bring over, so i got the new home. aside from maintence, is has never been in the hospital. never. it hums like a baby. the plastic body is scratched, it doesn't look new, but it still embroiders without missing a stitch and does more stitches than i'll ever use. i love it to death. i bought the gem for traveling and another gem for my dd. i also have a viking 1+ which i like a lot, but nothing beats my new home/janome. if it dies tomorrow, i would replace it with another janome. if my viking died i might get a bernina. the parts are easy to get now.